July 31, 2015

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus

John 1: 35-39

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.

Come and See

Some years ago, as other religious communities before us, Jesuits of the Midwest began to host “Come and See” weekends at Loyola University Chicago for men 18-35 who wanted to learn more about Jesuit life. As director of vocations, I always became quietly excited as those weekends approached. God’s grace was amazingly palpable and evident in the lives of these participants—they were truly seekers. Like the disciples in today’s gospel, these men were attracted to Jesus; they wanted to grow closer to him; they wanted to “come and see” where Jesus lives.

As Christians, each one of us is a seeker—whether single or married, a parish priest or a vowed religious. We all want to grow closer to Jesus. Thus today’s feast day is for all of us who seek to discern God’s grace in the footsteps of St. Ignatius of Loyola, using the tools of Ignatian discernment to “read the signs of the times,” and to sift through the daily movements of consolation and desolation in our own minds and hearts. If we are faithful to the graces of our baptism, faithful to our daily examen and the ongoing discernment of movements within our souls, then Christ truly lives within us. That spiritual strength will be evident to those who want to know where Jesus lives and to follow him.

—Fr. Brian Paulson, S.J. is the provincial superior of the Jesuits of the Chicago-Detroit province.

Prayer

In prayer, try reflecting on the following questions.

1. Call to mind an experience when you felt God was inviting you to “come and see” where Jesus is living. Perhaps it was an experience of feeling drawn to help someone hurting or in need because Christ was present in that person. How did you respond to that invitation?

2. Do you have any small daily disciplines or “spiritual exercise” that helps you understand the movements of consolation and desolation within your heart? If not, how about trying the Ignatian Examen?

3. What more can I do to encourage young men and women to consider vocation to lay ministry, religious life, and priesthood, and lay ministry within our Church?

—Fr. Brian Paulson, S.J.

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus

John 1: 35-39

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.

Prayer

In prayer, try reflecting on the following questions.

1. Call to mind an experience when you felt God was inviting you to “come and see” where Jesus is living. Perhaps it was an experience of feeling drawn to help someone hurting or in need because Christ was present in that person. How did you respond to that invitation?

2. Do you have any small daily disciplines or “spiritual exercise” that helps you understand the movements of consolation and desolation within your heart? If not, how about trying the Ignatian Examen?

3. What more can I do to encourage young men and women to consider vocation to lay ministry, religious life, and priesthood, and lay ministry within our Church?

—Fr. Brian Paulson, S.J.

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

Come and See

Some years ago, as other religious communities before us, Jesuits of the Midwest began to host “Come and See” weekends at Loyola University Chicago for men 18-35 who wanted to learn more about Jesuit life. As director of vocations, I always became quietly excited as those weekends approached. God’s grace was amazingly palpable and evident in the lives of these participants—they were truly seekers. Like the disciples in today’s gospel, these men were attracted to Jesus; they wanted to grow closer to him; they wanted to “come and see” where Jesus lives.

As Christians, each one of us is a seeker—whether single or married, a parish priest or a vowed religious. We all want to grow closer to Jesus. Thus today’s feast day is for all of us who seek to discern God’s grace in the footsteps of St. Ignatius of Loyola, using the tools of Ignatian discernment to “read the signs of the times,” and to sift through the daily movements of consolation and desolation in our own minds and hearts. If we are faithful to the graces of our baptism, faithful to our daily examen and the ongoing discernment of movements within our souls, then Christ truly lives within us. That spiritual strength will be evident to those who want to know where Jesus lives and to follow him.

—Fr. Brian Paulson, S.J. is the provincial superior of the Jesuits of the Chicago-Detroit province.

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

July 30, 2015

St. Peter Chrysologus

Ex 40: 16-21. 34-38

Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him. In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up. Moses set up the tabernacle; he laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars; and he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent over it; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He took the covenant and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark, and set the mercy seat above the ark;and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the curtain for screening, and screened the ark of the covenant; as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey.

Seeking God

Not all of Scripture is characterized by high drama. For every Transfiguration or walk across the water, there are strict Old Testament directives on how to organize crops or wear one’s hair. Even today’s reading, which presents the magnificent image of God as a fire in a cloud, offers a rather boring account of Moses constructing a Dwelling “exactly as the Lord had commanded him.” I often wonder why these passages are included in the Bible at all. What do the Ark of the Covenant’s dimensions have to do with my faith?

I think the answer rests in God’s involvement in every facet of our lives, even the minutiae. Yes, God is with us when we are joyfully celebrating with our friends and families or struggling with pain, sorrow, and hardship. But God is also there when we are drinking coffee, brushing our teeth, checking an app on our phones, and waiting in traffic. Realizing God is constantly with us and around us is at the heart of the Jesuit challenge to find God in all things. Like St. Ignatius, we are called to seek God in the good, the bad, and even the mundane.

Prayer

Teach me to listen, Holy Spirit, for your voice—in busy-ness and in boredom, in certainty and doubt, in noise and in silence. Teach me, Lord, to listen.”

—John Veltri, SJ

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

Seeking God

Not all of Scripture is characterized by high drama. For every Transfiguration or walk across the water, there are strict Old Testament directives on how to organize crops or wear one’s hair. Even today’s reading, which presents the magnificent image of God as a fire in a cloud, offers a rather boring account of Moses constructing a Dwelling “exactly as the Lord had commanded him.” I often wonder why these passages are included in the Bible at all. What do the Ark of the Covenant’s dimensions have to do with my faith?

I think the answer rests in God’s involvement in every facet of our lives, even the minutiae. Yes, God is with us when we are joyfully celebrating with our friends and families or struggling with pain, sorrow, and hardship. But God is also there when we are drinking coffee, brushing our teeth, checking an app on our phones, and waiting in traffic. Realizing God is constantly with us and around us is at the heart of the Jesuit challenge to find God in all things. Like St. Ignatius, we are called to seek God in the good, the bad, and even the mundane.

Prayer

Teach me to listen, Holy Spirit, for your voice—in busy-ness and in boredom, in certainty and doubt, in noise and in silence. Teach me, Lord, to listen.”

—John Veltri, SJ

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

St. Peter Chrysologus

Ex 40: 16-21. 34-38

Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him. In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up. Moses set up the tabernacle; he laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars; and he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent over it; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He took the covenant and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark, and set the mercy seat above the ark;and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the curtain for screening, and screened the ark of the covenant; as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey.

July 29, 2015

St. Martha, disciple of the Lord

Jn 11: 19-27

And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’

Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’

One Thing

“You are anxious and worried about many things.” Well, Jesus, in fact, I am and I am sure Martha was too. The to-do list was long: packing for a family of five for a week visiting family, then a week of camping, followed by a conference for me and camp for the kids. “To give and not to count the cost…To labor and not to seek reward,” Ignatius helps me pray. Jesus says, “There is need of only one thing.” Ignatius answers, “Except that of knowing that I do your will.” I used to expect that the peace and consolation from succeeding in this would be pervasive. Twenty years of marriage and three children have taught me that the prayer must be a mantra in the midst of the chaos, and the answer is always a surprise and usually fleeting, like a cool breeze on a hot, humid summer day.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to be generous, to serve you as you deserve:
to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward,
but that of knowing that I do your will.

—St. Ignatius Loyola

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

Prayer

Lord, teach me to be generous, to serve you as you deserve:
to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward,
but that of knowing that I do your will.

—St. Ignatius Loyola

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

St. Ignatius’s First Principle and Foundation says “The goal of our life is to live with God forever. God, who loves us, gave us life. Our own response of love allows God's life to flow into us without limit.” One of the ways in which we respond to the love God has given us is through prayer, not only personal prayer but community prayer as well.
The Pastoral Ministry Center invites members of our Strake Jesuit Community to share their prayers with us: their concerns, joys, thanksgivings, so that we may walk with them in all these times of their lives.

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July 31, 2015

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus

John 1: 35-39

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.

Come and See

Some years ago, as other religious communities before us, Jesuits of the Midwest began to host “Come and See” weekends at Loyola University Chicago for men 18-35 who wanted to learn more about Jesuit life. As director of vocations, I always became quietly excited as those weekends approached. God’s grace was amazingly palpable and evident in the lives of these participants—they were truly seekers. Like the disciples in today’s gospel, these men were attracted to Jesus; they wanted to grow closer to him; they wanted to “come and see” where Jesus lives.

As Christians, each one of us is a seeker—whether single or married, a parish priest or a vowed religious. We all want to grow closer to Jesus. Thus today’s feast day is for all of us who seek to discern God’s grace in the footsteps of St. Ignatius of Loyola, using the tools of Ignatian discernment to “read the signs of the times,” and to sift through the daily movements of consolation and desolation in our own minds and hearts. If we are faithful to the graces of our baptism, faithful to our daily examen and the ongoing discernment of movements within our souls, then Christ truly lives within us. That spiritual strength will be evident to those who want to know where Jesus lives and to follow him.

—Fr. Brian Paulson, S.J. is the provincial superior of the Jesuits of the Chicago-Detroit province.

Prayer

In prayer, try reflecting on the following questions.

1. Call to mind an experience when you felt God was inviting you to “come and see” where Jesus is living. Perhaps it was an experience of feeling drawn to help someone hurting or in need because Christ was present in that person. How did you respond to that invitation?

2. Do you have any small daily disciplines or “spiritual exercise” that helps you understand the movements of consolation and desolation within your heart? If not, how about trying the Ignatian Examen?

3. What more can I do to encourage young men and women to consider vocation to lay ministry, religious life, and priesthood, and lay ministry within our Church?

—Fr. Brian Paulson, S.J.

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus

John 1: 35-39

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.

Prayer

In prayer, try reflecting on the following questions.

1. Call to mind an experience when you felt God was inviting you to “come and see” where Jesus is living. Perhaps it was an experience of feeling drawn to help someone hurting or in need because Christ was present in that person. How did you respond to that invitation?

2. Do you have any small daily disciplines or “spiritual exercise” that helps you understand the movements of consolation and desolation within your heart? If not, how about trying the Ignatian Examen?

3. What more can I do to encourage young men and women to consider vocation to lay ministry, religious life, and priesthood, and lay ministry within our Church?

—Fr. Brian Paulson, S.J.

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

Come and See

Some years ago, as other religious communities before us, Jesuits of the Midwest began to host “Come and See” weekends at Loyola University Chicago for men 18-35 who wanted to learn more about Jesuit life. As director of vocations, I always became quietly excited as those weekends approached. God’s grace was amazingly palpable and evident in the lives of these participants—they were truly seekers. Like the disciples in today’s gospel, these men were attracted to Jesus; they wanted to grow closer to him; they wanted to “come and see” where Jesus lives.

As Christians, each one of us is a seeker—whether single or married, a parish priest or a vowed religious. We all want to grow closer to Jesus. Thus today’s feast day is for all of us who seek to discern God’s grace in the footsteps of St. Ignatius of Loyola, using the tools of Ignatian discernment to “read the signs of the times,” and to sift through the daily movements of consolation and desolation in our own minds and hearts. If we are faithful to the graces of our baptism, faithful to our daily examen and the ongoing discernment of movements within our souls, then Christ truly lives within us. That spiritual strength will be evident to those who want to know where Jesus lives and to follow him.

—Fr. Brian Paulson, S.J. is the provincial superior of the Jesuits of the Chicago-Detroit province.

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

July 30, 2015

St. Peter Chrysologus

Ex 40: 16-21. 34-38

Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him. In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up. Moses set up the tabernacle; he laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars; and he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent over it; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He took the covenant and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark, and set the mercy seat above the ark;and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the curtain for screening, and screened the ark of the covenant; as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey.

Seeking God

Not all of Scripture is characterized by high drama. For every Transfiguration or walk across the water, there are strict Old Testament directives on how to organize crops or wear one’s hair. Even today’s reading, which presents the magnificent image of God as a fire in a cloud, offers a rather boring account of Moses constructing a Dwelling “exactly as the Lord had commanded him.” I often wonder why these passages are included in the Bible at all. What do the Ark of the Covenant’s dimensions have to do with my faith?

I think the answer rests in God’s involvement in every facet of our lives, even the minutiae. Yes, God is with us when we are joyfully celebrating with our friends and families or struggling with pain, sorrow, and hardship. But God is also there when we are drinking coffee, brushing our teeth, checking an app on our phones, and waiting in traffic. Realizing God is constantly with us and around us is at the heart of the Jesuit challenge to find God in all things. Like St. Ignatius, we are called to seek God in the good, the bad, and even the mundane.

Prayer

Teach me to listen, Holy Spirit, for your voice—in busy-ness and in boredom, in certainty and doubt, in noise and in silence. Teach me, Lord, to listen.”

—John Veltri, SJ

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

Seeking God

Not all of Scripture is characterized by high drama. For every Transfiguration or walk across the water, there are strict Old Testament directives on how to organize crops or wear one’s hair. Even today’s reading, which presents the magnificent image of God as a fire in a cloud, offers a rather boring account of Moses constructing a Dwelling “exactly as the Lord had commanded him.” I often wonder why these passages are included in the Bible at all. What do the Ark of the Covenant’s dimensions have to do with my faith?

I think the answer rests in God’s involvement in every facet of our lives, even the minutiae. Yes, God is with us when we are joyfully celebrating with our friends and families or struggling with pain, sorrow, and hardship. But God is also there when we are drinking coffee, brushing our teeth, checking an app on our phones, and waiting in traffic. Realizing God is constantly with us and around us is at the heart of the Jesuit challenge to find God in all things. Like St. Ignatius, we are called to seek God in the good, the bad, and even the mundane.

Prayer

Teach me to listen, Holy Spirit, for your voice—in busy-ness and in boredom, in certainty and doubt, in noise and in silence. Teach me, Lord, to listen.”

—John Veltri, SJ

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

St. Peter Chrysologus

Ex 40: 16-21. 34-38

Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him. In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up. Moses set up the tabernacle; he laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars; and he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent over it; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He took the covenant and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark, and set the mercy seat above the ark;and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the curtain for screening, and screened the ark of the covenant; as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey.

July 29, 2015

St. Martha, disciple of the Lord

Jn 11: 19-27

And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’

Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’

One Thing

“You are anxious and worried about many things.” Well, Jesus, in fact, I am and I am sure Martha was too. The to-do list was long: packing for a family of five for a week visiting family, then a week of camping, followed by a conference for me and camp for the kids. “To give and not to count the cost…To labor and not to seek reward,” Ignatius helps me pray. Jesus says, “There is need of only one thing.” Ignatius answers, “Except that of knowing that I do your will.” I used to expect that the peace and consolation from succeeding in this would be pervasive. Twenty years of marriage and three children have taught me that the prayer must be a mantra in the midst of the chaos, and the answer is always a surprise and usually fleeting, like a cool breeze on a hot, humid summer day.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to be generous, to serve you as you deserve:
to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward,
but that of knowing that I do your will.

—St. Ignatius Loyola

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

Prayer

Lord, teach me to be generous, to serve you as you deserve:
to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward,
but that of knowing that I do your will.